NEWS
EVENTS
No Rest in Budapest
Other | Monday 19th August 2013 | ella
- CHECK OUT THE NIGHTLIFE
Budapest has to be home to some of the best nightlife you've ever experienced. Throughout the summer things called 'ruin bars' pop up all over the city, they are created out of the ruins of the old Jewish quarter on the pest side, and they are filled with random stuff such as the ruins of old cars, fairy lights, spinning fans, plants growing out of every nook and cranny, chandeliers floating above your head and also the most random collection of late night snacks. I think one even boasts grilled Angus beef burgers. The most famous ones by name are Szimpla and Instant, and both are perfect to kick off a bar crawl in Budapest.
Another place to go is the A38 - it’s an old ship with a club and bar on it. If you're planning on going here however, the best way to visit the venue is for a gig. It’s meant to hold some of the best acoustics in Europe, taking into account the stage area is actually situated under the water. A definite must do.
Something you MUST do if you find yourself in the city over a weekend is check out the ‘Sparty!’ Budapest is famous for having natural sulphur springs that run out of the city, and these are built into many outdoor pools in the city called the Baths. There are a few different Baths you can visit, but the main Sparty takes place in the Szechenyi baths on Saturday nights. There are bright lights, loud music and plenty of alcohol to go round. Though it can get rowdy, it’s definitely something not to be missed!
- DO SOMETHING EXCITING
Along with natural springs that run underneath the city, there are also caves! The city is built on limestone which means that the natural springs create the huge cave system, and with the help of a guide and a little training you can explore them too! There is a company who are experienced in taking tourists under the city to manoeuvre through it. Although it can be an exhilarating experience, it's not for the claustrophobic or faint hearted. You will be in some pretty confined spaces, fully aware that an entire city is resting on top of you, however for some that can only add to the adrenaline.
- VISIT SOMETHING WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
The Sirius Teahauz in Budapest looks so unassuming from the outside, all you can see is a silver plaque, but when you enter and walk down the little steps, you see a quaint little tea house buried in the heart of Budapest. There are shisha pipes along the windows ready to be rented, cups and saucers piled high and labelled tea in pigeon holes as far as the eye can see. But that’s not it, head into the back room, separated only by a drawn curtain and you see a new world of fun for the kid at heart. There’s a sort of Alice-in-wonderlandesque jungle gym built towards the back! Felt floors, ladders, landings and hanging ropes (though make sure you take your shoes off before you enter) and also a wardrobe, make sure you open this because it leads to a mirrored hallways and a secret hide out, complete with a window and a bell through which you can order a round of tea. The teahouse is so chilled and laid back and doesn’t break the bank, at least half the price of any equivalent you'd find in the UK.
Another thing you could check out is the invisible Exhibition! Its primary purpose is to give people a different perspective - what it would be like to be blind. The exhibition is made up of scenarios in which a person could find themself crossing the road, drinking at a bar or around an apartment. It’s something to do if you have a spare hour and fancy challenging your perceptions of the unknown.
Ella Guthrie
USEFUL LINKS
Official tourism site: http://www.budapest.com/
Simpla kert official site:http://www.szimpla.hu/
Instant official site:http://instant.co.hu/en
A38 official site:http://www.a38.hu/en/
Budapest baths official site: http://www.bathsbudapest.com/budapest-bath-parties
caving official site: http://caving.hu/
sirius teahauz official site: http://www.sirius-se.hu/teahaz/
Invisible Exhibition trip advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g274887-d1556758-Reviews-Invisible_Exhibition-Budapest_Central_Hungary.html
